Wednesday, December 29, 2010

It's Peanut Butter Crunch Time!It's Peanut Butter Crunch Time!It's Peanut Butter Crunch Time!It's Peanut Butter Crunch Time!All right, I'll stop. But it really is Peanut Butter Crunch Time, courtesy of this Sam's Club free sample. Normally you have to be a Sam's Club member to get these, but this time it's open to everybody, or at least everybody who gobbled 500 lbs of food over the holidays, like me.PEANUT BUTTER CRUNCH WITH A BASEBALL BAT!

I've never heard of Cool Juice, but evidently it's a 100% juice blend with no high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, added sugar, artificial colors, or artificial flavors, so that sounds pretty good. If you get the coupon and find it in stores, tell us where you saw it in the comments!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

I wasn't going to write about this at first because I was sulking about not being able to participate in the offer myself, but I very generously decided to post it anyway for those of you who live in Chik-Fil-A-having states. Sign up now for your free Spicy Chicken Biscuit.

You may recall that plenty of these fast-food freebie offers have crashed and burned, and Chik-Fil-A's solution is to have you "reserve" a date-specific coupon from Jan. 3-8, to spread the craziness out. It seems a little strict, but if that's how they ensure enough spicy chik patties for all, then I support it. I mean, I'm not going to get one anyway. *sob*

Well, as coupons go, it's kinda lame, but this is all I've got, so I'm posting it anyway: get 50% off selected hardcover bestsellers through Wed., Dec. 29. You can see a full list at the bottom of the coupon if you click the link, but it includes some royal and presidential memoirs, a dash of cookbookery, a few suspenseful thrillers, and even some sci-fi and fantasy.

Personally, I only like to buy a book after I've read it, because how do you know if it's worth owning until you've read it? But 50% off makes me 50% more likely to buy.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Don't forget, this deal is about to end on December 31! Cash in $40 at Coinstar for an e-gift card with participating merchants, and on the bottom of your receipt you'll see a promo code. Enter the code on Coinstar's website, and they'll mail you the bonus $10 gift card!

In this modern age, it's hard to get through a holiday season without receiving at least one gift card (I got four myself). But do you know all the applicable federal and state laws surrounding gift cards? Of course not, and that's why this handy state-by-state guide to gift card law is so awesome. For example, here in Washington state, gift cards are redeemable for cash if the value is $5.00 or less - good to know if you assumed you HAD to spend down to the last penny (and end up spending your own money to cover the difference on that last purchase).

Lifehacker has a good article on ways to make sure you use your gift cards to their fullest, including electronic reminders when you're close to an expiration date.

And if you have a dog of a gift card that you know you'll never, ever use in a million years, consider using a trade-in site like Plastic Jungle to exchange it for one you actually will. Yeah, you'll lose a bit of value on that card, but you'll end up with something you'll really use.

I don't know if the whole Internet is just knocked out from holiday fatigue or what, but there's not much stirring in the freebieverse today. Borders sent me an email announcing 50% off calendars and 50% off selected toys, games, and holiday items, so I may go and check that out later today, but we'll see.

Hope you made it through the holidays in one piece and got everything you asked Santa for!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

While you're out bustling around tomorrow and doing those last few holiday errands, stop by Peet's for a free brewed coffee or tea. They'll be giving it away all day long as a thank-you to the local community.

Each Peet's store has chosen its own nonprofit organization to donate holiday fundraising efforts to, so you could also do a good deed and drop a buck or two into the collection box while you're enjoying your free beverage.

NPR has a holiday gift for you: a free playlist of the best music of 2010, hand-picked by them. Download the iTunes playlist (if you don't have iTunes, it's free, but you need to download it first). The selection includes folk, electronica, jazz, and world music, so it sounds eclectic, to say the very least.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Lonely Planet has an early Xmas present for you... 13 city-guide travel apps, absolutely free (normally $9.99). Even if you're not going to one of these places right now, if you think you might in the future, it's worth the free download, since you'll have access to it forevermore. Here are the cities:

Amsterdam

Berlin

Copenhagen

Dublin

London

Moscow

Munich

Paris

Prague

St. Petersburg

Stockholm

Vienna

Warsaw

If you're an Android user, they have Android versions for a mere 99 cents, too.

Aveda has 20,000 free samples of Smooth Infusion 'poo, conditioner, and style-prep smoother to give away on Facebook, and they want you to have one! Just "like" them and sign up for your free products.

Monday, December 20, 2010

I'm intrigued by this Coffee-Mate Free Flavor Friday party hosting kit offer. Free Flavor Friday is February 4, 2011, on which date they will be giving away 100,000 free coupons for full-size bottles of Coffee-Mate flavored creamer, but I guess they want you to also throw your own themed house party to celebrate... flavored creamer.
"Choose one of four entertainment themes to host your party with kits loaded with fun activities – Bistro Baking, Classic Game Night kit, Art Party, or Office Party. Give party attendees free product coupons to purchase any one flavor of COFFEE-MATE®."

So this is the idea:

1. Sign up for a kit and choose one of the four themes.
2. If you're selected, they will send you a party kit bursting with fun, including baking supplies, board games, art supplies, partyware, and free Coffee-Mate creamer coupons for your guests.
3. PARTY TIME
4. Upload photos depicting the wild good times you had at your coffee party.

I chose the Bistro Baking theme because I would like a free muffin pan, so we'll see how that goes. If you'd like to get in on the fun, sign up (unless you're coming to MY party).

Friday, December 17, 2010

Now, of course I'm not talking about you here, but if you have a friend who maybe hasn't gotten all their holiday shopping quite done yet, they'll be glad to know that today is Free Shipping Day. Over 1,000 merchants have joined in a mighty fellowship, making a sacred pact to offer free shipping AND guaranteed Xmas Day delivery if you order today.

Some stores are offering this deal for all orders; some require a minimum purchase; and some are offering discounts and sales on top of the free-shipping offer, so you should browse the list of merchants and check out your options. Just don't take too long, because that's what got your friend into this mess in the first place.

Peace-Keeper Causemetics has a great sale for you last-minute shoppers: get 30% off everything and two free lip balms with every order! I can personally vouch for their minty-fresh Eco-Sensual lip balm, which is scattered all around my house, car, and office.

"For this last week (until December 24), we're combining all the best bits of our Holiday Promotions! Starting today, whenever you place an order with PeaceKeeper, you get the following:

UPDATE: If you're the kind of person who feels guilty about marching in, presenting your free coupon, and marching back out, you can always use this 33% off coupon to allay your guilt and get yourself something nice. Maybe a bag of Ghirardelli chocolates to go with that latte?

Borders is doing one final push before the holidays are over to get you into their stores and shopping. Their latest clever tactic is offering a coupon for a free medium coffee or regular latte, good today, December 17, only.

Not good on the fancy flavored ones, but it seems likely that they'd add a pump of flavor and just charge you the difference if you ask nicely.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Here's a freebie for our furry friends - get a free sample of True Wellness cat or dog food when you fill out the form. Looks like you can even request multiple samples, but please be considerate of others and only ask for what you need, so it doesn't crash for everybody.

If you're one of those pet owners who likes to fill stockings for their animal companions, sample-size bags of pet food would make an excellent and much-appreciated stocking stuffer, I bet.

Yes, you read that right... Borders has released their biggest discount coupon ever: 50% off any one item! There are the usual restrictions and you need to be a Borders Rewards member (membership is free), but otherwise it's a shopping bonanza!

If there's a DVD box set or special-edition hardcover book you've been eyeing, now's the time to print the coupon and snap that sucker up. What a deal!

Yoplait is running an offer for a free yogurt coupon - unless you are unlucky enough to live in CA, where evidently state dairy laws prohibit them sending a coupon for a dairy product. Who knew? I'm glad that doesn't apply to Washington, since I've received coupons for free goat cheese and Brie in my time.

If you live in CA, however, they will send you "an alternate offer," so you could give it a try and see what you get.

It's a slow day out there in the freebieverse - I guess everyone's energy is focused on holiday prep. But I did find one offer out there for you. Click on the “Like” button on Wendy’s Facebook page and play the "Fry for All" game, and you’ll be able to print a coupon for a free order of Natural Cut Fries. We can all use a little sodium and fat to sustain us while powering through all that holiday shopping, wrapping, mailing, and baking, right?

Friday, December 10, 2010

Gummy vitamins are a deliciously painless way to get your daily vitamin supplements in, and now you can try them out free from Natural Dynamix. Choose from a multi-vitamin or a fiber vitamin when you fill out the form.

And don't believe the label that says they're for kids... they're totally for grownups too.

IT'S HERE IT'S HERE IT'S HERE! No, not Xmas... the long-awaited 40% off coupon from Borders. It's valid through Dec. 13 and good on almost any one item, so go nuts!

Oh, and I tried out the show-this-coupon-on-your-mobile-device method earlier this week and the cashier confirmed that that works just fine. He also said that you can even "write down the barcode number on a sticky note" and bring that in, though I don't know how his coworkers across the country will feel about that.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Starbucks' 12 Days of Sharing campaign still has a few more days to go... and VIA fans may enjoy today's deal. Get a $5 gift card free when you purchase a 12-pack of VIA (that doesn't include the iced or the new flavored kinds, but does include the brand-new Christmas Blend). 12-packs are usually $10, so that's like getting it for $5... or getting a couple of free coffees... or getting a stocking stuffer or thank-you gift that you can pass on to some deserving soul.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Whatever you may think of their newly redesigned logo (I think it looks like a mouth open wide with dangling uvula), you can get a free sample of Seattle's Best Coffee here. Apparently they've created a new rainbow-colored system ranging from lightest to boldest blends, but while they invite you to "find your level," the sample you'll be ordering is Level 3, the medium roast.

Garnier Fructis, maker of bright green hair products, is moving into the anti-dandruff 'poo market, and offering a free sample to entice you. If you like it, you can also print out a $1 off coupon for a full-size bottle.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

If you've ever put something in your online shopping cart at one price, only to come back a day later and see that it's mysteriously gone up a few bucks, you'll be interested in this Slate article on dynamic pricing. We all know that online travel booking sites do this - you can select tickets at one price only to see it go up by the time you finish checking out - but I didn't know that retailers like Amazon, Pottery Barn, and Zappos also do it, as well as banks and credit card companies.

The article has some interesting tips on juggling browsers and clearing cookies to help compare your options and choose the best deal. Of course, you should also search online for low prices, check for promo codes and special offers on deal-sharing sites like the HTN, and use those cash-back rebate portal sites for any online purchase anyway. How do you outsmart retailers to get the best online deals?

I haven't started wrapping gifts or sending out Xmas cards, so I'm starting to get a little nervous. At least the tree is up and the gingerbread house is slathered in candy; you know, the important things.

And speaking of free music from Amazon, how about a new holiday song for free every day from Dec. 1-25? Download festive music each day, free, using the Amazon MP3 downloader (which is free, easy to use, and automatically exports songs to iTunes).

Last year I got a wacky Lady Gaga Xmas song this way, so I'll be curious to see what they offer us this year.

I'm not exactly sure what Genesis Juice is, but it sounds like some organic hippie health potion to me. If that's your thing, and you live in Oregon or Washington, sign up for a coupon for a free bottle of Genesis Juice!

Oh, they can try to make me call it "Nat Geo," but I won't. I won't, do you hear me? That's... pretty much the dumbest rebranding ever, and is it actually convincing anyone that NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC is hip to what the kids are saying these days? Should NG even care about that?

(On a side note, it turns out that National Geographic has its own music label, which I did not know, so maybe this is like their rapper name or something?)

Want to cash in some of that change that's been piling up in your coin jar, and get a little something extra for yourself at the same time? Coinstar makes it easy with their current promotion. Through Dec. 31, cash in $40 at Coinstar for an e-gift card with participating merchants, and on the bottom of your receipt you'll see a promo code. Enter the code on Coinstar's website, and they'll mail you the bonus $10 gift card!

Currently participating merchants include Borders, Lowe's, iTunes, Regal Cinemas, and Rixty, and Amazon will be joining the fun on Dec. 9. Scrounge up some change and get the rest of your holiday shopping done painlessly!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

For once, I'm kinda bummed that I have a Mac, because this is a pretty great deal: Viva Pinata for PC, normally $19.99, is on sale through tomorrow at 8:30 am for just $0.99. That's a full computer game for the price of a (cheap) iPhone app, y'all!

If you've never played it, Viva Pinata is a cute, fun sim game in which you're trying to design and plant a garden to attract a variety of colorful pinata animals. But just like real life, some animals eat other animals, so your challenge is to find the right balance of species, make them breed and have babies, and eventually collect 'em all in your garden. It's a fun game and you can't beat the price!

Friday, December 3, 2010

As much as I love the Internets, sometimes you just have to go out into the real world to find a freebie. Like just now, when I discovered that Starbucks is offering BOGO VIA 12-packs (which means, sadly, that this doesn't include the flavored ones or iced VIA), today only in stores!

This does include the brand-new Christmas Blend VIA that just came out, which I am about to have some of right now with a little eggnog enhancement.

I just came from Borders, where all games are currently on sale for 33% off... and I might have gotten one or two to put under the tree. If you have board game lovers to shop for, you may want to check it out - they have Bananagrams and its fruity siblings, along with an interesting selection of unusual games and puzzles.

'Tis the season for a free eggnog or rum-ball cupcake from Cupcake Royale! Print the coupon (or show it on your mobile device) and take it into a store this weekend, Dec. 3-5, to get your free cupcake with any drink purchase. It says coffee, but they are understanding of the fact that not everyone's a coffee person.

But which one to pick? It's like Sophie's Choice! My solution is to take a friend with you, and then you can each get one flavor and share.

P.S. If you like Cupcake Royale, put this on your calendar: the Madrona store is having an anniversary party on Sat., Dec. 11, including free snacks and drinks, Sprinkle Your Own Cupcake bar, a free show, and more!

Looks like Santa's elves made an extra batch of Jolly Orange Body Butter, because the Body Shop is giving away a full-size body butter with every order! Plus, free shipping on all orders with no minimum purchase. (No code required for this one.)

In a perhaps-not-quite-that-intuitive cross-promotion (they are the razors of the future?), Norelco is sponsoring free IMAX tickets to "Tron: Legacy" in a handful of cities (click the link in the top nav bar or at the bottom):

Atlanta

Boston

Dallas

Los Angeles

Minneapolis/Apple Valley

Philadelphia

Phoenix/Tempe

San Francisco

Seattle

Washington DC

Bentonville

Chicago

Detroit

Fort Lauderdale/Miami

Houston

New York City

Seattle's showing is Monday, December 15. Each day there's an allotment of free tickets, and the pain is that you have to complete the form and hit Submit to find out whether there are any still available. But if you reeeeeally want to see "Tron: Legacy" in IMAX for free, it could be worth the effort!